The Federal Government on Sunday said it was in touch with members of Boko Haram.

In a statement by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the government added that it was being cautious in order to establish that it was dealing with the right people.

Asked by our correspondent if the government was conceding to the request of the Islamist group, Mohammed said the government was doing everything possible to secure the release of the girls and “put an end to the horrible saga of their abduction”.

He said, “The government is in touch with those behind the video. We are on top of the situation. We are being extremely careful because the situation has been compounded by the split in the leadership of Boko Haram. We are also being guided by the need to ensure the safety of the girls.

“Since this is not the first time we have been contacted over the issue. We want to be doubly sure that those we are in touch with are who they claim to be.

“We hope that the latest development will signal the beginning of the end of the nightmare to which the girls, their families and indeed all Nigerians have been subjected since the unfortunate abduction.”